Swash-plate type compressor

Abstract

A swash-plate type compressor of the type having combined cylinder blocks constituting the outer frame of the compressor and formed with a plurality of axially extending internal spaces one of which is used for storing lubrication oil, comprises a generally concave partition wall of a U-shaped cross section dividing the oil storing space into an upper chamber for receiving an outer fringe of the swash plate and a lower chamber for storing oil, in the combined cylinder blocks--partition wall has a first conduit formed therein at a level lower than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is an elevated level obtained due to a to-and-fro movement of the swash plate after the compressor starts until the compressor reaches a predetermined rotational speed and also at a level higher than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is obtained after the compressor reaches said predetermined rotational speed, and a second conduit formed therein and positioned at a lower level than an oil surface level in said lower chamber, said conduits providing communication between the upper and lower chambers, thus assuring supply of a proper quantity of lubrication oil to the sliding machine parts of the compressor. There is also provided means for prevention of metal powder and like substances from getting into said upper chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a swash-plate type compressor having a pair of horizontal cylinder blocks, combined together in an axial alignment, a drive shaft penetrating said cylinder blocks along axes thereof for rotation relative to said cylinder blocks, and a swash plate secured to said drive shaft, said combined cylinder blocks including a plurality of cylinder bores extending through the cylinder blocks axially thereof, each receiving a piston for sliding therein, and a plurality of internal spaces axially defined between adjacent cylinder bores, wherein said swash plate has an outer fringe thereof disposed in engagement with the piston thereby to rotate in unison with the drive shaft being rotated, for causing reciprocal motion of the piston within the cylinder bore to carry out a pumping action, the improvement wherein:   the lowermost of said internal spaces is provided with a partition wall having a generally concave configuration and dividing the space into an upper chamber for receiving at least an outer fringe portion of the swash plate, and a lower chamber for storing oil, said partition wall having at least a portion thereof positioned below an oil surface level in said lower chamber, wherein said partition wall has at least one first conduit formed therein and which is positioned at a level lower than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is an elevated level obtained due to a to-and-fro movement of the swash plate after the compressor starts until the compressor reaches a predetermined rotational speed and also at a level higher than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is obtained after the compressor reaches said predetermined rotational speed, said at least one first conduit providing communication between said lower chamber and said upper chamber, said partition wall also having at least one second conduit formed therin and positioned at a lower level than an oil surface level in said lower chamber to provide further communication between said upper and lower chambers, said at least one second conduit having such a diameter as to allow oil to flow through said second conduit at a minimum flow rate required, whereby the first conduit acts as an oil spill port and the second conduit as an oil feeding port; and comprising   a filter material disposed on an inner wall of said upper chamber in a lower portion of said upper chamber so as to cover said second conduit, said filter material straining off metal powder and the like material.   
     
     
       2. In a swash-plate type compressor having a pair of horizontal cylinder blocks, combined together in an axial alignment, a drive shaft penetrating said cylinder blocks along axes thereof for rotation relative to said cylinder blocks, and a swash plate secured to said drive shaft, said combined cylinder blocks including a plurality of cylinder bores extending through the cylinder blocks axially thereof, each receiving a piston for sliding therein, and a plurality of internal spaces axially defined between adjacent cylinder bores, wherein said swash plate has an outer fringe thereof disposed in engagement with the piston thereby to rotate in unison with the drive shaft being rotated, for causing reciprocal motion of the piston within the cylinder bore to carry out a pumping action, the improvement wherein:   the lowermost of said internal spaces is provided with a partition wall having a generally concave configuration and dividing the space into an upper chamber for receiving at least an outer fringe portion of the swash plate, and a lower chamber for storing oil, said partition wall having at least a portion thereof positioned below an oil surface level in said lower chamber, wherein said partition wall has at least one first conduit formed therein and which is positoned at a level lower than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is an elevated level obtained due to a to-and-fro movement of the swash plate after the compressor starts until the compressor reaches a predetermined rotational speed and also at a level higher than the oil surface level in the upper chamber which is obtained after the compressor reaches said predetermined rotational speed, said at least one first conduit providing communication between said lower chamber and said upper chamber, said partition wall also having at least one second conduit formed therein and positioned at a lower level than an oil surface level in said lower chamber to provide further communication between said upper and lower chambers, said at least one second conduit having such a diameter as to allow oil to flow through said second conduit at a minimum flow rate required, whereby the first conduit acts as an oil spill port and the second conduit as an oil feeding port; and comprising   a filter material disposed on an inner wall of said upper chamber in a lower portion of said upper chamber so as to cover said second conduit, said filter material straining off metal powder and like material;   said filter material having a portion thereof protruding into said lower chamber through said second conduit, said filter material serving to supply the upper chamber with oil due to osmotic pressure when the oil surface level in the lower chamber becomes lower than a predetermined oil surface level.   
     
     
       3. The swash-plate compressor as recited in claim 2, in which said partition wall comprises vertical walls and a bottom wall horizontally extending between said vertical walls, wherein the vertical walls have front and rear end faces facing axially of the cylinder blocks each formed with said first conduit, and said bottom wall is formed with said second conduit.